Fluid heater



c. BLISS FLUIDHEATER Aug. 24, 1954 Filed April 5, 1952 lll l//l/ Zhwentor CHA/w55 5.4/55

n i I i ttorneg Patented Aug. 24, 1954 FLUID HEATER Charles Bliss, Ardsley, N. Y., assignor to Foster Wheeler Corporation, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application April 3, 1952, Serial No. 280,346

8 Claims.

This invention relates to fluid heaters and more particularly toI tubular heaters for heating fluids. In various processes wherein fluid is heated in a tubular heater by the passage of gases of combustion in heat exchange relationship therewith in a furnace, it is highly desirable that the gases of combustion be evenly distributed throughout the furnace, not only to evenly heat the ud flowing through the tubular members but to prevent heat burning out of a portion or portions of said members. Usually, in such heaters, gases of combustion pass to the heater flue through a gas outlet opening or openings along one side or one end of the furnace and generally adjacent the bottom thereof. While gases `of combustion may be distributed more or less evenly in portions of the furnace,` all of the gases from throughout the entire furnace will so flow to the gas outlet opening that all of said gases will pass in heat exchange relationship with` tubular members adjacent the gas outlet opening or openings causing such tubes to overheat or to burn out. j

The present invention provides a tubular heater in which gases flowing to a'furnace gas outlet opening are uniformly withdrawn from the furnace. j

In the heater of the present invention wherein tubular members extend longitudinally of the furnace therein, usually along the opposite sides, roof and in spaced relationship to the bottom thereof and wherein a gas outlet opening or a plurality of gas outlet openings are disposed adjacent the bottom and along one side of the furnace in longitudinally spaced relationship to one another, passages through which gases `of combustion flow from the furnace to the gas outlet opening are provided, which passages extend transversely of the furnace below the `tubular members adjacent the furnace bottom, `said passages having a plurality of openings therein which are substantially equally spaced laterally of one another transversely of the furnace, the j passages are so constructed and arranged `that gases entering an opening thereafter` flow to the gas outlet opening or openings of thetfurnace out of heat exchange relationship withthe tum bular members in the furnace.

The invention will be understood from `the fol``` lowing description when considered in connes` tion with the accompanying drawing forminga part thereof and in which:

Fig. 1 is a transverse vertical sectionalfviewjof a heater embodying the invention; and

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view of the lower portion of the heater illustrated in Fig. 1 taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Like characters of reference refer to the same parts throughout the several views.

Referring to the drawing, the heater has a setting including vertical side walls IU and II, sloping side walls I2 and I3, end walls I4 and I5, a roof I6 and a bottom Il. Suitable framework designated generally at I8 supports the wall and roof of the setting. The walls of the setting enclose a furnace I 9 which is fired, as shown, by two fuel burners 20 and 2| located in the lower central portion of end wall I4.

Vertical side walls IIland |I have horizontally extending tubular members 22 and 23 respectively supported adjacent thereto by tube supports 24. The sloping side walls I2 and I3 have similar tubular members 25 and 26 respectively hung adjacent thereto by supports 21 and tubes 28 below roof I6 are supported by hangers 29. Tubular members 30 extend horizontally and longitudinally of the furnace in spaced relationship to the bottom thereof and in substantially the same horizontal plane. The tubes adjacent the side walls, roof and bottom of the furnace are connected by return bend portions which are disposed within the heater, as shown in Fig. 2. Any other form of tube connections may be utilized, however, the connections may be disposed outside of the end walls if desired. Tubular members 22, 23, 25, 26 and 28 are heated principally by radiation from the products of combustion produced by the burners 2|! and 2|, while tubular members 3U are heated principally by convection heat exchange relationship with said gases passing to furnace gas outlet openings 3I which are disposed, as shown, at the bottom of wall 24 at a lower elevation than the tubes 3d. Gas outlet openings 3| are laterally spaced Afrom one another longitudinally of the furnace at sub-` stantially the same level and are connected to a flue,`not shown, through conduit 32.

In the heater of the present invention, gases of combustion are uniformly withdrawn from the bottom of the furnace by providing a plurality of ballles extending transversely of the furnace It! below the bottom tubes 3|). Each of the baffles are at a different level and are so suported as to provide passagesbeneath the bales which passages communicate with the gas outlet openings 3| vand also to provide inlet openings for said passages between adjacent baiiles. As shown, a plurality of baffles 33 are positioned at a level closely adjacent tubes 3ll, said baffles extending anotherto form gas passages therebetween.

Other baffles 36 are positioned at a lower level than bailles 33 and are of substantially the same length and width as baffles 33. Bailles 36 are supported on tiles 31 which, likeI tiles 35i, are laterally spaced from one another to form passages 3S therebetween. Gas inlet openings :l5 in communcation with outlet openingspl are formed between the inner side of wallfl land the adjacent side edge of baffles 33 while gas inlet openings 39 to passagesy 35 are formed between tailles-3.3 and Eames-.4t .are V`*disposed Yat a lowerlevel than b ailles 33 andare of substantially the same widt'handlength as,l baillest and 35. Tiles simi1ar t0. tiles 34 and 3l., suppe-rt. bales 40, said tiles being laterally spaced from oneA another longitudinally of bailles il solas` toform gas, passages IlZtherebetween. Gas inlet .openings llBwhichcommunicate with passagesy 38 are formedbetween baiilesr35 andjll, while further gas` inlet openings fill are formed between the bailles 4Q, andbottorn v l 'l ofthe heater which lastrnentioned ,gasL openings .are in ycomin unication withrassagestt., They tile .Suportsft 3l. and li are positioned in alignmentfwith one another so that passages 42 3 2?, ,and tleommunieatewith one another.r andhforrna continuous flow path transversely of the furnace to the .furnace` gas outlet openings. 3 l

In operation, gases of .combustion from the fur,- naceJS, afterv flowing in radantheat exchange relationship withtubular members 22, 33., 2,6 andnZ,vl pass Idownwardly,in said furnace, the gases from thel area lof the furnacedirectly above baille 3,3, pass in heatv exchange` relationship ,with tulconlar` members 3)- directly above said baille and flow outwardly of the furnace Athrough gas inlet openings 45, into gas outlet openings 3l.. Combustion gases froirrthe area of the 4furnace di,- rectly above bafilel in flowing downwardly pass in heat exchange relationship. withtubes` 33 to enter gas inlet lopenings 38 and. passages ,S5-Ibetween tiles 34 and vbeneath baffle 33. Gases lpassing downwardly andin heat exchange relationship with vtubular members, 33, in the area of the furnace directly above, baille tllowing outward-Y ly of thefurnace through vgas inlet openings i3 of passagesv v33V Ibetween tilesv 3l and beneath, baille 36, while gases in the area of the furnace above the space between the inner surfacel of wall Ill and the,sideedgeof` baille 83 adjacent said inner surface yenter gas passages t2 between tiles 4|` through gas, inlet openingsk M.. In-this manner, gases flowing into, gas inletv openingsy M pass through gas passages 42- into ,gas passages 38 below baille 36, wherein these gases, ltogether'. with the gases entering inlet, openings 43, ilowA through passages 38 into, passages 35. Thesev gases together with gases passing into ,passages 35 through gas inlet openings 33 flow intogas outlet openings 3l together. with theV4 gases passing to said gas outlet openingsthroughinlet open,- ings 45, In this manner, gases arel uniformly'. withdrawn from furnace I9 so thatlsubstantially the same volume of gases pass inheat exchange relationship with eachof. the tubularmembers 3a Changes may be made in the form, location and relative arrangement of the several parts of the heater herein disclosed without departing from the principles of the invention. Accordingly, the invention is not to be limited excepting by the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. In fluid heating apparatus, ,asetting havingY opposite sidewalls, oppositeend wallsfaroof and a bottom forming therebetween a furnace chamber, a plurality of generally horizontally extending tubular members arranged along at least one of said walls, a plurality of generally horizontally extending floor tubular members in spaced relationshipiwith-said bottom of the setting, said floor tubular members, being laterally spaced from 0,11 another, firing means for said furnace disposed above the iioor tubular members, said furnace having gas outlet means extending along one wall of the furnaceI below the floor tubular members, said gas outlet means, comprising v.passage forming. meansY providing a passage .extending from a gas outlet opening in said one wall to a point in said Afurnace 4chamber adjacent but in spaced relationship, withthe wall oDDQStesaid onel wall, the passage forming means hayinga plurality of bailles providing a top. for said passage, sadbailes positionedl in, vertically spaced ,horizontal planes belowsaid iloor tubular members, the `upper most baille nearest saidfloar tubular members. beine. adjacent. said `one. wall, ther ,other balesbeing fdisposed in successive lower holi: zontal planes, each ofsuccessive baflesextending inwardly of the Vfurnace chamber from a point 1 in .substantial alignment with `the innermost, ede@ of the baille next above tota point in substantial alignment with the edge nearest said wall ofthe baille next belowthereby providing .a plurality of gas inlet Openings at a plurality of different elevations vbelow the floor tubular members. and at a plurality, of pointsV spacedlaterally of said onewall and eachother toward the` opposite wall.

2The apparatus of claim 1 ,wherein .the gas.' outlet means comprises a plurality of vOpfnings `Sllcbed, from one another Y laterally along one, Wall ofthe furnace.

3. The vapparatusof claim l wherein the pas,- sage forming means comprises a pluralitypf gas, passages belowthe floor tubular members, each passage leading toone of saidk plurality of openings,

4. In fluid heating apparatus, a ,settingl'iaving opposite ,sidel walls,l extending longitudinallyl-of thefurnace, opposite. end walls, a roof and -a .bottorn formingV therebetween afurnace chamber, aplurality offgenerally horizontally extending. tubular, membersl arranged along said, side. Walls, a vplurality of generally `horizontally7 extending; floor ,tubular members in spaced relationship with said. bottomof ythe settingsaid. floor, tubularA meIrL-. bersbeing laterally spaced from Aone another and, extending longitudinally of the furnace,v firing. means for saidfurnace disposed .above the iloor tubularmembers inv one end wall of the setting. so` as to,direct a ,streamof gases ofcombustion ina `generally horizontal` direction toward the opposite end of, thefur nace,sa idl furnace having. gas outlet meansextending along one. side4 wall of the furnace below ,thefloor tubular members,y

said gas outlet means comprisingpassageformingwmeans extending .from-a gasgoutlet opening; in said` one sidewall at substantially. right angles thereto to a point in saidfurnace .chamber ad,-i

jacenttobut inl spacedrelationshp, .with-- theside wall opposite ,Saidone side wa1lth e, passage` forming means having a plurality of bailles pro viding a top for said passage, said bailles positioned in vertically spaced horizontal planes below said oor tubular members, the uppermost baille nearest said floor tubular lmembers being adjacent said one side wall, the other baffles being disposed in successive lower horizontal planes, each of successive bailles extending inwardly of the furnace chamber from a point in substantial alignment with the innermost edge of the baille next above to a point in substantial alignment with the edge nearestsad side wall of the baille next below, thereby providing a plurality of gas inlet openings at a plurality of different elevations below the iloor tubular members and at a plurality of points spaced laterally of said one side wall and each other toward the opposite side wall.

5. The apparatus of claim Il wherein the gas outlet means comprises a plurality of openings spaced laterally from one another longitudinally along one side wall of the furnace.

6. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the passage forming means comprises a plurality of laterally spaced gas passages extending transversely of the furnace below said floor tubular members, each passage leading to one of said plurality of openings.

'7. In fluid heating apparatus, a setting having opposite side walls extending longitudinally of the furnace, opposite end Walls, a roof and a bottom forming therebetween a furnace chamber, each side wall having a vertically extending portion and a vertically and inwardly inclined portion above the vertically extending portion and connecting with the roof of the furnace, a plurality of generally horizontally extending tubular members arranged along each of said walls and roof of the furnace, a plurality of generally horizontally extending floor tubular members in spaced relationship with said bottom of the setting, said floor tubular members being laterally spaced from one another and extending longitudinally of the furnace, ring means for said furnace disposed above the iloor tubular members in one end wall of the setting intermediate the roof and floor tubular members and so as to direct a stream of gases of combustion in a generally horizontal direction toward the opposite end of the furnace, said furnace having gas outlet means extending along one side wall of the furnace below the oor tubular members, said gas outlet means comprising passage forming means extending from a gas outlet opening in said one side wall of said wall at substantially right angles thereto to a point in said furnace chamber adjacent to but in spaced relationship with the side wall opposite said one side wall, the passage forming means having a plurality of bailles providing a top for said passage, said bailles positioned in vertically spaced horizontal planes below said iloor tubular members, the uppermost baille nearest said floor tubular members being adjacent said one side wall, the other baffles being disposed in successive lower horizontal planes, each of successive bales extending inwardly of the furnace chamber from a point in substantial alignment with the innermost edge of the baille next above to a point in substantial alignment with the edge nearest said side Wall of the baille next below, thereby providing a plurality of gas inlet openings at a plurality of diierent elevationsbelow the iloor tubular members `and at a plurality of points spaced laterally of said one side wall and each other toward the opposite side wall.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the gas outlet means comprises a plurality of openings spaced from one another longitudinally along one side wall'of the furnace and wherein the passage forming means comprises a plurality of laterally spaced gas passages extending transversely of the furnace below the iloor tubular members, each passage leading to one of said plurality of openings.

Behr July 24, 1951 

